Freddy Sanchez might not be ready for SF Giants’ opener

Manager Bruce Bochy just told us what has become more obvious by the day, that second baseman Freddy Sanchez might not be ready to be the starting second baseman on Opening Day.

“I guess you have to say that’s a possibility,” Bochy said after the Giants lost to San Diego 5-1. “We’re down to two weeks and he hasn’t gotten out there yet. We’re still optimistic that we’ll get him out there, but each day that goes by the possibility grows a little bit that he’s not going to be ready.”

Sanchez is not hurting. It’s just taking him a long time to strengthen his surgically repaired right shoulder to a point where he feels comfortable throwing all-out. That’s important, because the Giants do not like to send players out there and tell them to take it easy.

Before they throw Sanchez into a ballgame, Bochy and the coaches want to see Sanchez make that pivot at second base and throw hard across his body to first. Bochy felt that Sanchez was still a bit tentative the last time he participated in full-speed infield drills. Bochy wants to see Sanchez look game-ready in practice, and that won’t happen now until Tuesday at the earliest.

“Once he takes a good infield and feels like he can play in a game we’ll put him out there, but not until then,” Bochy said.

The Giants do have options. Besides Ryan Theriot (who has not looked very good at the plate or in the field this spring) and Mike Fontenot, Emmanuel Burriss is having a great spring. He walked, tripled and singled in today’s game and is hitting .441.

In other notes:

Aubrey Huff said his back felt much better this morning and he expects to play Tuesday, when the Giants return from their lone day off during the Cactus League schedule.

The Royals are looking into a lot of catchers to replace injured starter Salvy Perez, and a source told me that Chris Stewart and Eli Whiteside are both on the list. The Giants could trade the one who does not win the backup job here.

Madison Bumgarner threw five shutout innings in today’s game. He’s looked good. So have all the starters, for that matter.

Matt Cain will throw in a minor-league game today to keep him on schedule. Barry Zito then starts Tuesday’s game against the Diamondbacks.